Martin Cauchon

[Economic Development Agency, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, you have seen what they just did. To keep up such behaviour has to be seen as a lack of judgment. If they keep acting like that, I guess they are going to have change their name one more time.

I would like to tell the House that we are working with the auditor general. We are doing fine. We make a difference in the regions across the province of Quebec and we are going to keep helping the regions not only in the province of Quebec but across Canada, even if they do not like it.

[Economic Development Agency, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, again, if they have a specific point they would like to raise, I ask them to come over.

I am pleased to report that we are working on a yearly basis with the auditor general and the internal audit as well. I have all the reports—

[Economic Development Agency, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I guess it must be part of those members' dream. What I would like to tell the House is like any other regional development agency, we face audits on a yearly basis. I am pleased to report that the department is able to cope with the situation and that there is good management of public funds in my department and in regional agencies.

The problem is that back in 1993 they on the other side of the House would have destroyed all the tools that the Canadian government has to get involved in economic development of the regions. However, our Liberal values make sure that we are going to keep being involved in order to make a difference in all communities across Canada.

[Economic Development Agency, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, as I said back in 1995, we changed our mission. We have developed brand new programming. Actually we are dealing with and getting involved in the regions with two main programs.

I would just like to tell the House that of course we are managing public funds. Of course we are getting involved in the economic development of the regions. That is why on a yearly basis we are dealing with internal audits as well as the auditor general's reports.

Let me tell the House that I am pleased to report that now the main programs of the department are ISO 9002, which means that we do care about what we are doing and the management of public funds. As well we are going to—

[Economic Development Agency, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the question of mismanagement they are raising must be part of their dream. All the elements of the report I have in my hand show that the department is acting properly and is monitoring the situation properly. We make the difference in all the regions.

If they do not want to play cheap politics and they have specific concerns regarding the management of Canadian Economic Development, I just ask the hon. member to come over and tell me exactly what he is referring to. What I have shows that we are doing good work in the regions as Liberals.

[Economic Development Agency, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report again that we have internal audits on a yearly basis. As well the auditor general gets involved.

I am pleased to report as well that back in 1997, if we look at the report of the auditor general, he told us that indeed there was major improvement in our programming and the management of the funds. I am also pleased to report that we make the difference in all the regions across the province of Quebec.

I am pleased to say as well that as long as I am there, I will do my work, my job, and get involved in the economic development of the regions. Of course members on the other side do not believe in economic development of the regions, but this is Liberal—

[Economic Development Agency, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, whenever an internal audit or the auditor general himself has something, we sit with him and have a look at the situation. We make sure we make improvements as well because we care about the management of the public funds we are managing.

The main concern of members on the other side is not the question of management. Their main problem is that in 1993 they would have destroyed all the industry department. They would have destroyed all economic development area agencies.

Now what they dislike very much is the results we have from getting involved and working with the regions, in partnership with the regions. The results are amazing. I am going to keep—

[Economic Development Agency, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that with program review we have decided to establish in Canadian Economic Development two main programs to get involved in the economic development of the regions.

I am pleased to report as well that on a yearly basis we are working with internal audits. We are monitoring the situation and so far it goes very well because of the experience and expertise we have within the department.

Members on the other side must not be very pleased with that because based on their platform in 1993 they would have destroyed all the tools given to the Canadian government in order to get involved in the economic development of the regions. They are Reformers, former Reformers. Let me tell—

[Economic Development Agency, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I simply do not know exactly where the members are going. I guess it must be part of their dream.

On a yearly basis the Economic Development Agency has internal audits. We keep focusing on the reports. We are monitoring the situation in a very proper manner.

We have been involved in economic development for quite some time. We are pleased with the results we have provided people. We will keep working on the economic development of the region. We will keep working to ensure that we continue to create jobs across Canada.

[Economic Development Agency, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, we simply do not know if they are talking about the Economic Development Agency of Canada, but if that is the case, I am pleased to report that since 1994 we have modified our program. We are managing two programs in economic development and we are getting involved in the economic development of all regions of the province of Quebec.

I am also pleased to report that we are working in close co-operation with the auditor general. We have internal audits on a yearly basis. We are monitoring the situation properly.

As well, I would like to focus on the fact that our programs are now ISO-9002.